7 Hidden Features of The Samsung Galaxy S5 (list)

Samsung Galaxy S5 went on sale in 150 different markets across the globe on April 11th. We have a pretty good idea about the specifications it has to offer, which includes a 5.1-inch 1080p display, a 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 processor, IP67 certification making the handset dust and water resistant, fingerprint sensor and Android 4.4 KitKat as its operating system.

The handset comes with a lot of features which many users may not know about. Let’s just get this straight, a normal user doesn’t go hunting to the depths of the smartphone features, except the most important ones which are promoted in advertisements or announced during the official launches. The company can’t just showcase every single thing on a smartphone, nor all Samsung has taken the time to list 10 hidden features the device has to offer to its users. We’re going to list down a few of them, take a look.

Do keep in mind that not all of these features are hidden, you may find most of them during your early hours of use.

1. Write With A Pencil

This might turn out to be a new feature for most of us. Samsung mentions in the blog post that users can write on the Samsung Galaxy S5 using a pencil as well. How? Well, the screen on the Samsung Galaxy S5 is so sensitive that it can recognize when you’re tapping, swiping or writing.

Users interested in the feature can simply enable it by heading to Settings > Display and tick the check box right next to “Increase touch sensitivity” or select ‘Touch sensitivity.” Once enabled, this will let users perform tasks using their fingernails, gloves, and even a pencil. Impressive isn’t it?

2. Bookmark Your Favorite Apps

Samsung Galaxy S5 comes with a small widget known as Toolbox, which lets users bookmark their favorite apps and access them quickly. It’s a small round app drawer, which can be moved anywhere on the screen. Once enabled, a white circle-shaped icon will appear on the screen, and will display your favorite apps upon tapping.

Users can enable this feature, either by going to the quick settings panel (just swipe from top to bottom), or by going to Settings > Toolbox. Long tap on the icon will give users the ability to place the icon anywhere on the screen.

3. Privacy Mode

Privacy is important. The handset makes sure that you personal documents, pictures, text messages, videos, voicemails, etc. are not accessed by anyone else except you, thanks to the newly introduced Privacy Mode. You can easily enable Privacy Mode from the device settings, and select the contents you want to hide. The selected content will only be displayed in the Privacy mode, and not in the normal mode. You also have to choose how you will unlock the screen in the private mode when you enable it, so make sure you don’t forget your password, PIN or pattern, otherwise, you won’t be able to access the contents.

4. Kids Mode

Ok, let’s just get straight to the point, as parents, we allow our kids to play with our smartphones, which may not be the most suitable thing to do. There are important files and data which you don’t want kids to access, or delete accidentally. It’s not just the data, you also want to prevent your kids from accessing certain apps, prevent in-app purchases and more.

Keeping this thing in mind, Samsung released a new mode dubbed as Kids Mode, which comes with a colorful UI for the kids, and restricts access to various functions of the smartphone. Samsung Galaxy S5 users can restrict access to applications, media content or any other data on the smartphone through a few simple steps. It even allows users to limit the time your kids can use the smartphone for.

5. Camera Access From The Lock Screen

This is not a new feature, Samsung introduced this feature with the latest Android 4.4 KitKat update on its existing devices as well. There’s a camera icon on the lock screen which provides users with quick access to the camera app, and snap sudden moments using their device.

6. Priority Senders

We have hundreds of people in out contact list, but we don’t talk to every single one of them. There are a handful of people, basically our friends, we talk to on a daily basis. To ease the task of going through the entire contact list or searching for them, Samsung Galaxy S5 let users create a priority senders list. The Priority Senders list will appear on top of your messaging app, so you can quickly select the recipients.

7. Display Caller Information While On Phone

This is another handy feature of the Samsung Galaxy S5. Once enabled, the device will display caller information when you’re on call with a specific person. His Google+ activity, and the details about communication will be displayed on the same screen. Users can enable this feature by going to Settings > Call.

There you go folks, some of the “so-called” hidden features of the Samsung Galaxy S5. Personally, I feel that a user who will dig around his phone will be able to know most of the above mentioned features, but if you didn’t, just take a look at them.

Hammad Saleem

Hammad is a full time writer who worked for many popular websites in the past. He loves to write about smartphones and gadgets. When he is not writing, he can be found playing Clash of Clans on his iPhone or looking for a good place to eat.

Today, I went to the beachfront with my children. I found a sea shell and gave it to my
4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She put the shell to
her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear.
She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is completely off topic but
I had to tell someone!